The top late-night snack in Singapore: “Great Wall Clay Pot Frog Congee” – tender chicken with the aroma of sesame oil

▲ “Great Wall Clay Pot Frog Congee” is a famous Singaporean snack. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shiwen)

▲ A must-try congee in Singapore: “Great Wall Dining Room.” (Video / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

Reported by Reporter Cai Wenjun / Singapore

Abroad, where can you find a late-night bite if you’re hungry but don’t want convenience store food? If you’re in Singapore, head to Chinatown’s Clarke Quay for a bowl of congee! The long-standing “Great Wall Clay Pot Frog Congee,” which has been wafting its enticing aroma from the street corner for years, is a local favorite even among Singaporeans. It only closes for four hours a day, making it perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night meal.

▲ Great Wall Dining Room is open from morning until the early hours, with diners filling its tables at all times. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shiwen)

▲ The menu is on the signboard – just pick a number and pay at the counter. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shiwen)

The actual name of the eatery serving Great Wall Clay Pot Frog Congee is “Tiong Shian Porridge Centre” (Great Wall Congee Centre), though locals also call it “Great Wall Dining Room.” Walk to the end of Smith Street, the main road in Chinatown, take a turn, and you’ll see its large signboard. The layout resembles a Chinese stir-fry eatery, with tables and chairs lining the sidewalk. Nearly every table orders a bowl of congee along with a few side dishes. Despite Singapore’s daily average temperature of around 25–26°C, the steaming hot meal leaves everyone sweaty – yet it doesn’t dampen diners’ enthusiasm for this congee.

▲ A small portion of “Great Wall Clay Pot Frog Congee” features soft yet firm white congee with a hint of sesame oil aroma. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shiwen)

▲ The tender frog meat is so delicious you won’t want to stop. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shiwen)

Ordering is simple – the restaurant displays two large signboards on the wall with numbers assigned to each congee and side dish. Just tell the staff your chosen numbers, pay at the counter, then find your table based on the number on your receipt. Within ten minutes, a steaming bowl of congee will be served.

Congee at Great Wall Dining Room comes in small and large portions, priced at S$8 and S$16 respectively. A small clay pot of frog congee is enough to satisfy two people. The small portion contains an entire frog’s worth of tender meat, and the white congee is soft yet firm, subtly fragrant with sesame oil – the richness is just right. One spoonful after another, the pot of congee disappears before you know it, leaving you wanting more.

Great Wall Congee Centre (Great Wall Dining Room) – Main Branch
Address: 265 New Bridge Road, Singapore (NO. 265 New Bridge Road)
Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 AM
Transportation: Take the MRT to Chinatown Station, a 10-minute walk away